Drilled-well pump and venturi meter



.Fung 2, 1936. w. L. FORWARD I DRILLED WELL PUMP AND VENTURI METER Filed Nov. 4, 1935 Patented June 2, 1936 I DRlLLED-WELL PUMP AND VENTURI METER Walter L. Forward, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Byron Jackson Co., Huntington Park, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application November 4, 1935, Serial No. 48,106

My invention Vrelates to rotary or centrifugal below the pump head 2 I insert my Venturi meter pumps for drilled wells, and relates particular- \8. Pressure conduits 9 and I0 lead from the ly to means for measuring the fluid now from Venturi throat tap and the Venturi approach such pumps. r tap, respectively, to a point adjacent the pump g Heretofore it has been the custom to measure head where they are connected to a suitable the uid output of drilled-well centrifugal pumps manometer or pressure gauge I I. by means of an auxiliary metering device of some Figure 2 shows a detailed view in fragmentary kind applied to the discharge pipe beyond the cross sectional elevation, of the Venturi meter pump head. Such devices as have been used 8 as used in a well having an inner casing 1 as 10 heretofore are cumbersome to handle, require exshown in Figure 1. The outer column is indil0 cessive space for installation (where space is usucated at 3, the inner casing at 1 and the pump ally atapremium), require expert knowledge for shaft at The Venturi tube is shown at I2 use and in many instances are subject to interand consists of a tubular member having an outer ference from solids (Such as sand) in suspension diameter slightly smaller than the inside diamin-the water. eter of the outer column 3 so as to iit loosely l5 The object of the 'present invention is to protherein. The inner surface of the tubular memvide a simple and inexpensive means for measber I2 conforms to the usual contour of a Venuring the fluid flow fromdrilled-well centrifugal turi tube. The Venturi tube I2 is provided near pumps. its down-stream end with an external, annular A further object is to provide a Venturi meter shoulder I3. The upper end of theY tube I2 is 20 located in the pump column. threaded externally as shown at I4 to receive Another object is to provide means for prethe threaded end of the tapered discharge nozventing the pump shaft from affecting the meter zle I5 (which may 0r may not be used), and the reading. threaded lock ring I9. The Venturi tube is pro- Another object is to provide a construction vided with a throat tap I6 between the shoul- 25 whereby the Venturi tube is a part of a coupling ders I3 and I3A. To secure the Venturi tube in adapted to connect adjacent sections of pipe place in the outer column 3 I provide a special column, n pipe coupling I1 threaded at both ends to engage Other objects and advantages will appear from the threads of the outer column sections 3. The

-the following description and drawing wherein: coupling I1 is provided near its middle section 30 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in cross with an inwardly extending annular rib I8 adaptsection, of a well casing containing my inven' ed to t between the shoulder I3 and the lock tion. ring I9. Coupling I1 is also provided with a pair Figure 2 is a cross sectional elevation of one of pipe taps 2liv and 2l. 'Ihe tap 20 communia5 form of my invention as applied to a well having cates the throat tap I6 with the exterior of the 35 inner and outer pipe columns. coupling, while the tap 2| communicates the Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation of anspace below rib I8 with the exterior of the couother form of lmy invention as applied to a well pling. The Venturi tube is assembled in the casing having no inner column. column 3 by rst inserting the tube I2 in the 40 Referring to Figure l of the drawing, a typi-n coupling l1 so that the rib I8 rests upon the 40 cal drilled-well centrifugal pump isindicated at shoulder I3. The lock ring I9 is then screwed I connected to a pump head 2 by means of the against rib I8 to lock the tube to the coupling. usual pipe column 3 which is made up of a num- If the nozzle I5 is used, it isA screwed on the ber of pipe sections connected together by pipe Venturi tube I2 before the latter is inserted in couplings d. The pump is driven by a motor E the column. Flexible packing rings 22 and 23 are 45 through the shaft 6. The shaft 6 is enclosed in provided to make atight seal between the shoulan innerpipe column or casing 1 made up of a der I3 and rib I8 and between the ring I9 and number of sections of pipe connected together. rib I8. The coupling I1 is then screwed onto The inner casing 1 carries the shaft'bearings the lower column section 3, and then the upand is lled with lubricating oil. The fluid per column section 3 is screwed into the upper 50 pumped by the pump I passes upwardly through end o f the coupling I1. This construction and the column 3 and around the inner casing 1 and assembly results in the throat tap I6 communiis discharged through the pump head2. At a eating with the pipe tap 20 while the approach suitable point in the outer column 3 at least tap 2l communicates with the space below the twenty column diameters above the pump I and Venturi tube. The pipe taps 20 and 2| are con- 55 nected by suitable conduits (9 and l0 in Figure 1) to the pressure gauge i I at the top of the Well.

It will be noted that the pump shaft 6 passes through the center of Venturi tube I2. The inner casing 1 encloses the shaft 6 and prevents the rotation of the shaft and the viscosity of the fluid being pumped from affecting the meter reading. Because the inner casing is usually made of iron pipe which may rust or become pitted, I prefer to encase the inner casing in a thin sleeve 24 of brass or other non-corroding metal. The sleeve 24 is approximately as long as the Venturi tube.

Figure 3 shows a form of Venturi meter for use in wells which do not have an inner casing as shown at 1 in Figures 1 and 2. Two sections of outer column are indicated at 25 and 26, connected together by a special coupling 21 similar to coupling I1. 'Ihe pump shaft is shown at 35. The columns 25 and 26 are connected at their ends to adjacent sections of column by means of couplings 28 and 29. These couplings 2B and 2S are provided with spiders 30 and 3l containing lshaft bearings 32 and 38. Supported between the spiders and 3l is artubular casing 34 surrounding but spaced from the shaft 36. The column section 25 is approximately one-half the length of column section 26 so that the Venturi tube 36 (which is Supported from the special coupling 21 as shown in Fig. 2) is located about two thirds of the distance up the casing 84. This location is desirable because the disturbance to flow caused by the upstream spider 30 is less harmful to the meter accuracy than the disturbance4 caused by the downstream spider 3 i.

Although it would be possible to omit the casing 34 from the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, I

prefer to employ a stationary inner casing because otherwise it would be necessary to provide diiferent meter calibrations for the closed and open type of columns (Figs. 2 and 3) and for different rates of shaft revolution.

I claim: v

' l. In combination wit-h the column of a drilledwell pump having a rotary pump shaft extending through the length of the column and a pump connected to the shaft at the lower end thereof, a Venturi tube interposed in the column between the ends thereof and provided with pressure taps, a pressure-responsive indicator located at the top of the well and pressure conduits communicating the indicator with the taps in the Venturi tube.

2. In combination with the column of a drilledwell pump having a rotgy pump shaft extending -through the length of the column anda pump connected to the shaft at the lower end thereof. a Venturi tube interposed in the column between the ends thereof and provided with pressure taps, .a stationary inner casing enclosing the pump shaft and extending through the Venturi tube,- a pressure responsive indicator located at the top of the well and pressure conduits com- 'sure taps in aoaaase municating the'indicator in the Venturi tube.

3. In combination with the column of a drilledwell pump having a rotary pump shaft extending through the length of the column and a pump connected to the shaft at the lower end thereof, a coupling connecting adjacent sections of the column, a Venturi tube positioned within said coupling, pressure taps in said coupling communicating with the throat and the approach to said Venturi -tube, a pressure responsive indicator located at the top of the well and pressure conduits communicating saidpressure taps with said indicator.

4. In combination with the column of a drilledwell pump having a rotary pump shaft extending through the length of the column and a pump connected to the shaft at the lower end thereof, a coupling connecting adjacent sections of said column, a Venturi tube positioned within said coupling, a stationary inner casing positioned within said column enclosing said pump shaft and extending through the length of said Venturi tube, pressure taps in said coupling communicating with the throat and the approach to said Venturi tube, a pressure responsive indicator locatedat lthe top of the well and pressure conduits communicating' said pressure taps with said indicator.

with the pressure taps 5. In combination with the column of a drilledconnected to the shaft at the lower end thereof,

a coupling connecting adjacent sections of said column, a Venturi tube positioned within saidA coupling and surrounding said shaft, means for detachably connecting said Venturi tube to said coupling in sealing engagement therewith,-pres said coupling communicating with the throat and the approach to said Venturi tube, a pressure responsive indicator located at the top of the well and pressure conduits communieating the indicator with the taps in said Venturi tube.

6. In combination with the column of a drilledwell pump having a rotary pump shaft extending through the length of the column and a pump connected to the shaft at the lower end thereof, a coupling connecting adjacent sections of said column, an annular radially inwardly extending rib formed on said coupling, a Venturi tube 

